Temperature measuring apparatus for camera

Abstract

A temperature measuring apparatus for a camera includes an actuator for performing an operation of the camera. A time measuring unit starts time measurement when the actuator finishes its operation and is set in an inoperative state, and outputs timeover information when a time period required for the temperature of a camera which is increased by the operation of the actuator to return to an initial temperature upon finishing of the operation of the actuator elapses. A storage unit stores the timeover information. A temperature measuring unit is provided in an IC and measures the temperature of the camera. A power switch supplies power from a power source to the camera. A temperature measurement permitting/inhibiting unit permits the temperature measurement of the temperature measuring unit when the timeover information is stored in the storage unit upon an operation of the power switch, and inhibits the temperature measurement of the temperature measuring unit when the timeover information is not stored in the storage unit upon an operation of the power switch. A temperature storage unit stores the temperature measurement result when the temperature measurement permitting/inhibiting unit permits the temperature measurement. A control unit controls the actuator in consideration of the temperature measurement result.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A temperature measuring apparatus for a camera, comprising: an actuator for performing an operation of said camera;   time measuring means for starting time measurement after said actuator finishes an operation and is set in an inoperative state, and outputting timeover information when a time period required for a temperature of said camera increased by the operation of said actuator to return to an initial temperature upon finishing of the operation of said actuator elapses;   storage means for storing the timeover information output from said time measuring means;   temperature measuring means, provided in an IC (integrated circuit), for measuring a temperature of said camera;   a power switch for supplying power to said camera;   temperature measurement permitting/inhibiting means for permitting temperature measurement by said temperature measuring means when the timeover information is stored in said storage means upon an operation of said power switch, and inhibiting the temperature measurement by said temperature measuring means when the timeover information is not stored in said storage means upon an operation of said power switch;   temperature storage means for storing a temperature measurement result obtained by said temperature measuring means when the temperature measurement is permitted by said temperature measurement permitting/inhibiting means; and   control means for controlling said actuator in consideration of the temperature measurement result stored by said temperature storage means.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said time measuring means includes means for outputting the timeover information at a timing corresponding to the type of an operating actuator. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes means for controlling said actuator using the temperature measurement result stored in said temperature storage means upon an immediately preceding operation of said power switch when said temperature measurement inhibiting means inhibits the temperature measurement. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said actuator includes means for performing exposure of said camera. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said actuator includes means for performing rewinding of a film. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said actuator includes means for performing winding of a film. 
     
     
       7. A temperature measuring apparatus for a camera, comprising: an actuator for performing an operation of said camera;   an IC (integrated circuit) including a microcomputer for outputting control signals for controlling said actuator and temperature measuring means for measuring a temperature of said camera; and   an operation switch of said camera,   wherein said microcomputer comprises:   time measuring means for starting time measurement when said actuator finishes operation,   temperature measurement permission storage means for storing temperature measurement permission information when said actuator does not operate for a predetermined time period measured by said time measuring means,   temperature measurement control means for causing said temperature measuring means to execute temperature measurement and output a temperature measurement result when the temperature measurement permission information is stored upon an operation of said operation switch,   temperature storage means for storing the temperature measurement result, and   control means for performing temperature compensation for a drive signal of said actuator using the temperature measurement result stored in said temperature storage means.   
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for stopping said microcomputer when said actuator does not operate during the time measurement of a predetermined time period performed by said time measuring means, and starting the operation of said temperature measurement control means when said operation switch is operated. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said temperature measurement control means includes means for outputting a temperature measurement result stored in said temperature storage means upon an immediately preceding operation of said power switch to said control means when the temperature measurement permission information is not stored in said temperature measurement permission storage means. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said operation switch comprises a power switch for commanding said camera to switch on a power source. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said temperature measurement permission information storage means comprises a nonvolatile memory which holds stored contents when a power source of said camera is switched off. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said temperature storage means comprises a nonvolatile memory which holds stored contents when a power source of said camera is switched off. 
     
     
       13. A temperature measuring apparatus for a camera, comprising: an IC (integrated circuit) incorporating temperature measuring means for measuring a temperature of said camera;   an actuator for performing an operation of said camera;   time measuring means for starting time measurement when said actuator finishes an operation and generating an output when a predetermined time period elapses;   storage means for storing information indicating that the predetermined time has elapsed when said time measuring means generates the output;   means for immediately causing said temperature measuring means to perform temperature measurement when the information is stored upon an operation of an operation switch of said camera; and   temperature storage means for storing a temperature measurement result detected by the temperature measurement.   
     
     
       14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said operation switch comprises a power switch for commanding said camera to switch on a power source. 
     
     
       15. A camera for measuring and storing a temperature in a camera body and executing a predetermined camera operation using the stored temperature information, comprising: first switching means for switching an operation mode of said camera to a low consumption power mode after one of various camera operations including the predetermined camera operation is executed;   timer means for starting time measurement when the low consumption power mode is designated and outputting a timeover signal when a predetermined time period elapses;   signal holding means for holding the timeover signal;   second switching means for switching the operation mode of said camera to a normal operation mode when a manual operation member is operated in the low consumption power mode; and   temperature measurement permitting means for checking said signal holding means when the normal operation mode is started, and executing the temperature measurement when the timeover signal is held.   
     
     
       16. A camera according to claim 15, wherein said timer means includes means for changing a time period up to output of the timeover signal in accordance with an executed camera operation. 
     
     
       17. A camera according to claim 15, wherein the camera operation includes a driving operation of an actuator. 
     
     
       18. A camera having a temperature measuring apparatus, comprising: temperature measuring means for measuring a temperature of said camera;   temperature storage means for storing temperature measurement information of said temperature measuring means;   a plurality of actuating mechanisms including at least one actuating mechanism driven by using the temperature information stored by said temperature storage means;   control means for controlling one of said plurality of actuating mechanisms;   state holding means to be reset in response to the end of an operation of said control means and be set when a predetermined time period elapses after the end of an operation of said control means;   first setting means for setting said camera in a low consumption power mode in accordance with setting of said state holding means;   second setting means for resetting said camera in a normal operation mode when a manual operation member is operated in the low consumption power mode; and   temperature measurement permitting means for checking the content of said state holding means when the normal operation mode is started, and operating said temperature measuring means and said temperature storage means only when said state holding means is set.   
     
     
       19. A camera according to claim 18, wherein said temperature measuring means is provided in a camera IC. 
     
     
       20. A camera according to claim 18, wherein said temperature storage means comprises an electrically erasable and programmable ROM (EEPROM). 
     
     
       21. A camera according to claim 18, wherein said state holding means comprises an electrically erasable and programmable ROM (EEPROM). 
     
     
       22. A camera according to claim 18, wherein the camera operation includes a driving operation of an actuator. 
     
     
       23. A camera according to claim 18, wherein said control means, said state holding means, said first and second setting means, and said temperature measurement permitting means are included in a CPU mounted in said camera. 
     
     
       24. A camera according to claim 18, wherein said state holding means comprises: timer means for starting time measurement in response to the end of an operation of said control means and outputting a timeover signal when a predetermined time period elapses; and   a memory element to be reset in response to the end of an operation of said control means and be set by the timeover signal.   
     
     
       25. A temperature measuring apparatus for a camera, comprising: a temperature measuring circuit for measuring an environmental temperature;   a memory for storing an output from said temperature measuring circuit;   timer means for measuring a predetermined time period when execution of a camera operation using an actuator is finished;   state holding means to be reset when execution of the camera operation is finished and be set when the time measurement of said timer means is finished; and   temperature measurement control means for checking contents of said state holding means when a camera power source is switched on or a camera electric circuit is switched from a standby state to an operative state, and controlling said temperature measuring circuit to perform the temperature measurement when said state holding means is set, and not to perform the temperature measurement when said state holding means is reset.   
     
     
       26. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said temperature measuring circuit is provided in a camera IC. 
     
     
       27. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said memory comprises an electrically erasable and programmable ROM (EEPROM). 
     
     
       28. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said state holding means comprises an electrically erasable and programmable ROM (EEPROM). 
     
     
       29. A temperature measuring method for a camera, comprising the steps of: driving an actuator;   starting a time measurement when driving of said actuator is finished;   setting temperature measurement permission information when said actuator does not operate for a predetermined time period after the time measurement is started, and resetting the temperature measurement permission information when said actuator operates before the predetermined time period is reached; and   immediately performing temperature measurement of a camera and storing the temperature measurement result when the temperature measurement permission information is set upon an operation of an operation member of said camera.   
     
     
       30. A method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of setting said camera in a stop state in which power consumption is low when the temperature measurement permission information is set. 
     
     
       31. A method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of using the stored temperature measurement result when the temperature measurement permission information is reset when said operating member of said camera is operated.